Reckoning by Heather Atkinson Page B

Daina stopped and frowned. “What is another word for Scottish that starts with c?”
    “Do you mean celtic?” offered Rachel.
    “That is it. He is a celtic god,” ended Daina.
    “It’s a good job you didn’t ask Ryan, he would have given you a very different c-word,” smiled Rachel.
    Daina released a loud, lusty laugh that made everyone smile.
    “And how are you feeling?” Rachel asked Daina. She was four months pregnant with Bruiser’s baby, much to their mutual delight.
    “I feel wonderful, better than ever. Bruiser loves to kiss my belly and talk to it.”
    “Bruiser, talk?” said Rachel.
    “You’d be surprised how much he talks when he is feeling romantic,” she said dreamily. “We’ve booked the church for three months’ time, an autumn wedding, so you and Ryan must be there, you my matron of honour.”
    “We wouldn’t miss it for anything,” assured Rachel. She glanced over at Sabine, who was quietly attending to someone’s nails. “Is she okay? She’s been quite quiet lately.”
    “It’s since I found out I having baby,” said Daina. “She feel even more alone and worry I won’t have enough time for her when I married with baby.”
    “Poor mite,” said Tracey. “Why didn’t you tell us?”
    “Because I only just realised. We should go out, all the girls. It will cheer her up.”
    “You ought to be taking it easy in your condition,” said Tracey. “Make the most of it before the baby arrives because once it does you’ll have no time to put your feet up.”
    “I can give one night to my friend.”
    “Alright, let’s do it,” said Rachel, watching Sabine with concern, who looked up from her work to give her a smile and a wave. But Rachel could see the sadness in her eyes and she wanted to run over there and hug her. She was very protective of both Sabine and Daina. As far as she was concerned they were her responsibility and always would be, a responsibility she wouldn’t be without. “Find out where she wants to go then let me know when and where.” She glanced at her watch. “I need to get home, there’s something I have to discuss with Ryan.”
    “And you need to get back to work Daina,” said Tracey. “I think Mrs Barker’s about ready to have her face mask removed.”
    Daina’s eyes widened. “Ooh,” she exclaimed, rushing over to a large woman reclined back in a chair.
    “Take it easy,” Tracey called after her. “The last thing you want to do in your condition is fall over. “
    Rachel left the salon and drove home, Kirsty Halliday forgotten in her concern for Sabine. The poor girl was so far from her home in Latvia, all her family were dead. She had no one except Daina, Tracey, herself and Ryan. They were her family now but Daina was so caught up in Bruiser and the pregnancy. Herself and Ryan had had a lot on their plate lately too, so they hadn’t been paying her the usual attention. Rachel couldn’t bear the thought of Sabine feeling lonely in this foreign country and resolved to lift her out of the doldrums. In fact she was so caught up in thoughts of Sabine that she didn’t think about Kirsty until she arrived home to find Ryan sitting at the kitchen table with the kids while they enjoyed their post-school snack.
    “Mummy,” exclaimed Aaron, clambering off his chair and rushing up to give her a hug. He was such a mummy’s boy.
    “Hello sweetie,” she said, kissing the top of his head before kissing the other children in turn.
    “Mum, guess what?” said Leah cheerfully.
    “What?” she said, planting a kiss on Ryan’s lips.
    “Tiffany Miller wants to come for tea,” she said excitedly, eyes alight.
    “Who’s Tiffany Miller?” replied Rachel.
    “She’s a high schooler,” she said with awe. “Second year.”
    Rachel and Ryan glanced at each other. “I didn’t know you were friends with a high schooler,” said Rachel.
    “I wasn’t until yesterday. She’s best friends with Sarah’s sister.” Sarah was Leah’s best friend.